21-year-old Logan Petre of Marseilles pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder Wednesday. Logan Petre is accused of strangling his father Leo Petre in his home on Father’s Day weekend. Logan Petre is set for trial on Aug. 26 and would face 20 to 60 years in prison with no possibility of probation. Logan Petre’s lawyer Ryan Hamer announced a motion seeking a mental health examination. Hamer wants Logan Petre evaluated for whether he was sane at the time of his father’s death and if he is fit to assist his lawyer at trial. Logan Petre remains in LaSalle County Jail.
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A 31-year-old Sheridan man was given several citations by LaSalle County Deputies Sunday morning shortly after 6:30 a.m. Dillon Hampton was northbound on E. 2225th Rd. near N. 44th Rd. in Adams Township when he failed to obey a stop sign, drove through a ditch and came to a stop in a cornfield. Hampton suffered minor injuries and was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to remain at the scene of an accident, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and driving on a suspended license.
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The Healthcare Protection Act is now law in Illinois. Governor Pritzker signed the package of bills comprising the law yesterday. The HPA works to improve healthcare consumer experiences by banning step therapy and prior authorization for crisis mental healthcare, banning junk insurance plans, and ending unchecked rate increases for large group insurance companies. It was designed by the governor to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for Illinois consumers.
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LaSalle County Deputies responded to a vehicle stuck in a ditch on N. 25th Rd. and E. 309th Rd. 52-year-old Kelly Irvin of Peru was cited for improper lane usage and an invalid registration.
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Illinois is celebrating a milestone in cannabis retail sales this year. Governor Pritzker announced that the state reached $1 billion in sales on July 1. That includes more than $850 million in adult-use cannabis sales and almost $150 million in medical cannabis sales. The milestone was achieved nearly two weeks faster this year than in 2023.
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A man charged with shooting three Ogle County sheriff’s deputies last month is pleading not guilty. Jonathon Gounaris entered the not guilty plea in court yesterday to numerous charges, including attempted murder. Authorities say the suspect barricaded himself inside a house in the 400 block of Wild Rice Lane on June 12 after threatening family members. Deputies exchanged gunshots with Gounaris after entering the home. Three deputies and Gounaris were hit by gunfire and sent to the hospital.
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Former state senator William “Sam” McCann Junior is going to prison for the fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering and tax evasion. McCann was sentenced to 42 months behind bars this week after pleading guilty in February. Prosecutors say McCann used more than $600,000 in campaign funds to purchase vehicles, pay personal debts, make mortgage payments, and pay himself. McCann served as a state senator for the 49th District of Illinois from 2011 to 2013 and the redrawn 50th District from 2013 to 2019. He formed the Conservative Party of Illinois and launched an unsuccessful bid for Illinois Governor in 2018.
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A man faces attempted murder charges in Peoria. Police say officers were called out yesterday to the 800 block of E. Virginia on a report of a person shot. A woman was found with a gunshot wound and taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Investigators identified Deandre Ward as a suspect. Officers learned that Ward was at a local hospital, as well as a woman who had been stabbed in the same incident. Ward was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
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WEATHER:
Today
Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 7 am. Patchy fog before 8 am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming east-northeast around 5 mph in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low of around 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
LaVerne “Pete” Kreiser, 86, of Tonica passed away Friday, July 5, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Visitation for LaVerne “Pete” Kreiser will be from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. today, Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery east of Tonica with full military services conducted by the Tonica American Legion.
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Philip Scott Carretto, 67, of Marseilles, IL, passed away on July 8, at his home. Mass of Christian Burial for Philip Scott Carretto will be at St. Patrick’s Church on Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m.. Visitation for Philip Scott Carretto will be today from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at Ottawa Funeral Home. The burial for Philip Scott Carretto will be in St. Columba Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at The Knights of Columbus directly after the graveside service.
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Yvonne A. (Thomas) Price, 80, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, July 8, at LaSalle County Nursing Home. Funeral services for Yvonne A. (Thomas) Price will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 12, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Visitation for Yvonne A. (Thomas) Price will be from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park, on a later date.
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SPORTS:
White Sox Split Doubleheader With Twins
The Chicago White Sox went one-and-one during their doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. Luis Robert Jr. hit a two-run home run that ended up being the difference in a 3-1 win in game one. Erick Fedde tossed five shutout innings to earn his seventh win. In game two, the Southsiders surrendered a two-run lead and lost 3-2. The Sox gave up back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth before allowing the winning run to come in during the seventh. Martin Maldonado homered for Chicago, and Mike Soroka was charged with his tenth loss out of the pen. The Southsiders have dropped nine of ten against Minnesota this season, and they’re in last place in the AL Central at 27-and-68. Chicago hosts Pittsburgh tomorrow night.
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Cubs Blank Orioles
The Chicago Cubs stranded ten base runners during a 4-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The Cubs scored a pair of runs in the top of the second and never looked back. Christopher Morel homered in the victory, while Shota Imanaga earned his eighth win after holding Baltimore to just six hits over six scoreless innings. The Northsiders are now in fourth place in the NL Central at 44-and-49. Justin Steele starts for the Cubs against Baltimore tonight.
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Sky Pull Away From Dream
The Chicago Sky used a strong fourth quarter to beat the Atlanta Dream 79-68 at Wintrust Arena. The game was tied entering the final frame before Chicago outscored Atlanta 24-15. Chennedy Carter led the way with 19 points, while Angel Reese recorded another double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. The Sky are in seventh place in the WNBA at 9-and-12. They visit the Liberty tonight.